Stats On Infertility In Millennials Show Just How Complicated The Issue Is

Complaining about new generations is a popular trend; millennials are always dealing with some type of backlash. Recently, there has been discussion around possible barriers preventing millennials from having children. And, while it's good to address those barriers, it's also time to look at stats on infertility in millennials.

But aside from simply looking at the cost of having a child, some millennials are struggling with infertility.

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Infertility, defined as the inability to get pregnant after a year or longer of unprotected sex by the CDC, isn't uncommon. The CDC notes that about 6 percent of married women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States have experienced infertility. In addition, the CDC reports about 12 percent of women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of marital status; this is defined as impaired fecundity.

But, discussions around infertility often exclude those experiencing what's known as secondary infertility. The Mayo Clinic describes secondary infertility as the "inability to become pregnant or to carry a baby to term after previously giving birth to a baby."

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In a country that demonstrates how it doesn't really know what to do with mothers — for example, through the increasing rate of C-sections, many of them reportedly unnecessary — it's no surprise that such a high number of women are experiencing secondary infertility. According to Stat News, one in three births in the United States happen by C-section.

Though we need more research on infertility in millennials, one thing we can currently do is ensure conversations about millennials not having children don't revolve around their alleged selfishness or laziness.

At the end of the day, someone not having kids can be an entirely personal decision, which they don't deserve to be harassed for. But going forward, it's also important to remember millennials who are experiencing different forms of infertility. By doing so, the public can walk away with a wider understanding of what, exactly, is behind these lowered birth rates.